Lions' two-headed monster ranked best running back room by SiriusXM NFL Radio
"They got a two-headed monster and it's almost impossible to stop..."
The @Lions lead the way in MTC Running Back Room Rankings, listen below as @JimMiller_NFL & @PatKirwan_NFL explain what makes them so good.
📻 https://t.co/ROaoooKTca#OnePride I #FlyEaglesFly I #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/uhDCxzlIPH — SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) May 28, 2025
Sonic and Knuckles are not only two of the most well-known video game characters, they are now how we refr to the dynamic duo of Lions running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. That pairing helped the Lions leap to the top of the list among running back rooms in the eyes of Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller of SiriusXM's Movin' the Chains.
Kirwan noted the strong pairing of Gibbs and Montgomery and the incredible stat that Gibbs only played 55 percent of the offensive snaps last season -- Gibbs started just four games -- while Montgomery only played 34 percent of the snaps. Kirwan also gave some love to Craig Reynolds and his contributions on special teams -- only Sione Vaki and Ben Niemann played more special teams snaps than Reynolds -- as this discussion was about full running back rooms.
Even with Saquon Barkley, the Eagles were ranked below the Lions at No. 2, followed by the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Gibbs and Montgomery combined for 2,187 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 2024. Gibbs had 1,412 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on just 250 carries, already solidifying himself as one of the top, if not elite, running backs in the NFL. That duo will be needed again if the Lions are going to make a run to the Super Bowl this season. That gauntlet includes the other teams in this top five except the Bills.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Eagles' Lane Johnson Shares Strong Thoughts on Jalen Hurts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Since entering the national spotlight as the franchise quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jalen Hurts might be undervalued by outside eyes. When it comes to the All-Pro offensive lineman Lane Johnson, he has plenty of positives to say about the quarterback he's been blocking for over the past five years. What is it about Hurts that caught Johnson's attention early on—and continues to later on in the young quarterback's career? "I think it's his demeanor," Johnson told Ryan Clark of 'The Pivot' podcast. "The city's very rambunctious, very passionate. I think you need a guy who's very even-keeled. Emotions don't ever get high, even when we're winning. We win a Super Bowl. We smiled a couple of times, but it was back to work. When you have a guy like that, when he first came in, you don't know if it's the role he's playing, but that's how he's always been. For me, it allows guys to stay calm in pressure moments. Seeing a guy never get rattled." Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Cleveland Browns during the NFL Preseason 2025 game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cleveland Browns defeated the... Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Cleveland Browns during the NFL Preseason 2025 game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cleveland Browns defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 22-13. MoreHurts' calm persona once left many wondering if his leadership was up to par for an NFL quarterback. Over time, it became clear that Hurts may just be one of the best motivators at the position. While he might struggle to be a critics favorite when it comes to the "elite quarterback" conversation, nobody can deny that Hurts isn't a winner. Many point to the loads of talent surrounding Hurts as a primary reason why he's successful. Lane Johnson wants the world to know that Hurts carries a great work ethic with him. "With Jalen, man, he's always working," Johnson added. "You go in there before practice, he's got his own routine. It's never wavered since he's been a rookie. It only kept developing. Now, as he's aging, he's becoming more personable with the guys on the team. But he's always been the same leader, same demeanor from day one. Just more evolved over the past couple of years. I respect how he works." Hurts has started 66 games in the NFL. Since earning starter reps in 2020 as a rookie, Hurts has achieved a record of 46-20 during the regular season. He's thrown for 14,667 yards, 85 touchdowns, and just 39 interceptions. On the ground, Hurts has rushed for 3,133 yards and 55 touchdowns. He's been to two Super Bowls and was recently crowned the MVP of Super Bowl LIX after the Eagles took down the Kansas City Chiefs. Johnson has played with a handful of quarterbacks throughout his career. At this point, Hurts is by far the most successful one. No. 1 might have a hard time winning over the critics, but it's clear that an eventual franchise legend for the Eagles sees the value in the two-time Pro Bowl passer. For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bears exercise patience with Caleb Williams and his 70% completion, 4,000-yard goals
Bears exercise patience with Caleb Williams and his 70% completion, 4,000-yard goals originally appeared on The Sporting News In his second year in the NFL, Caleb Williams has clear targets to hit. Head coach Ben Johnson has set a benchmark of a 70% completion rate. Williams has embraced the challenge, pledging to complete 70% of his passes and throw for 4,000 yards. This is a big challenge for the Chicago Bears quarterback. Few QBs manage such a high completion rate. Only five reached 70% in 2024. It's a tough but attainable goal, one that demands patience from Johnson and the coaching staff. And that's exactly the approach they plan to take with the Bears' top pick in the 2024 NFL draft. According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, the Bears coaching staff acknowledges that Williams still needs progress. On Sunday, Cronin reported on SportsCenter that Johnson laid out the statistical benchmarks the team expects Williams to reach in his second year. "That's how they're going to gauge progress from their quarterback in Year 2," Cronin said. Cronin highlighted the coaching staff's patient approach: "I think that also speaks to the patience that this coaching staff is trying to process with their quarterback over the next couple of weeks, even when they get into the regular season." Johnson revealed during training camp that Williams' current completion percentage in practice is below expectations. "That's obviously not the only measure of success they're going to reach, but they're trying to get him closer to that 70 percent mark more than what he's shown so far," Cronin added. There is pressure surrounding Williams, but he has the full support of the coaching staff, who will stand by him even if he struggles early in the season. With that backing, the expectation is clear: find the rhythm sooner rather than later and deliver.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dolphins PFF grades: Best and worst performers vs. Lions
The Miami Dolphins erased a halftime deficit and came away with a 24-17 win against the Detroit Lions in a preseason matchup Saturday. With starters for both squads watching from the sideline -- including the Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa, De'Von Achane, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle -- it was the backups' time to shine. Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers took advantage of the opportunity, leading the Dolphins to a come-from-behind win with three scoring drives after halftime. Veteran Zach Wilson struggled to get things going in the first half. So who stood out most? Pro Football Focus graded every player's performance Saturday: 5 best grades on offense LG Josh Priebe: 89.1 WR Theo Wease Jr: 85.9 WR Dee Eskridge: 85.8 RT Ryan Hayes: 81.3 TE Chris Myarick: 73.9 5 best grades on defense CB Ethan Johnson: 90.0 CB Cam Smith: 81.1 CB Kendall Sheffield: 78.6 CB Isaiah Johnson: 78.4 DL Kenneth Grant: 78.1 5 worst grades on offense RB Jaylen Wright: 37.2 WR Tarik Black: 51.0 QB Zach Wilson: 51.4 WR Erik Ezukanma: 51.8 TE Tanner Conner: 51.9 5 worst grades on defense CB Cornell Armstrong: 29.5 LB Eugene Asante: 36.7 S Patrick McMorris: 46.6 DL Zeek Biggers: 47.1 LB Willie Gay Jr: 48.9 This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins PFF grades: Best and worst performers vs. Lions
